Do you have a certain song that you play to help you get through certain times? A song for when you are experiencing enjoyment or sadness? What about a song that could be your personal anthem? Music expresses emotion in a way words cannot.
As you read a novel, you begin to know the characters on a new level. A character's personality and emotions are portrayed and developed throughout the novel. I would like you to choose a character in the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and locate a song with which that character could relate. This song can be one that the character may turn to or one that defines him or her on a personal level. When choosing a song, consider the character's personal values displayed throughout the novel and/or events that have impacted the character during the novel.
SONGS WITH OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE OR EXPLICIT LYRICS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE WIKI. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A ZERO ON YOUR RESPONSE.
Please include the following in your post:
Song Title and Band/Artist Name
Lyrics
Link to the Band/Artist's Website
Description of why the character might relate with the song (explanation of the lyrics, musical style, etc.)
One quote from the book to support your reasoning
Please click on the link of the appropriate character below and place your post on the character's page.
"Runnin' out of self-control Gettin' close to an overload Up against a no win situation Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove I'm hangin' up my boxin' gloves I'm ready for a long vacation
Be good to yourself when nobody else will Be good to yourself You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire Oh be good to yourself
When you can't give no more They want it all but you gotta say no I'm turnin' off the noise that makes me crazy Lookin' back with no regrets To forgive is to forget I want a little piece of mind to turn to
Be good to yourself when nobody else will Oh be good to yourself You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire Oh be good to yourself Be good to yourself when nobody else will"
Mr. P is a minor character in the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. He is introduced at the beginning of the novel while Arnold is still attending school on the rez. After Junior accidentally breaks Mr. P's nose when throwing a book, Mr. P comes over to Arnold's house to have a talk with him. During this talk, Mr. P reveals many personal details of his life and gives Arnold very inspiring advice. Mr. P tells Arnold about back when he taught his sister, Mary in school. He explains to Arnold how much potential she had with her writing skills and how he believed she was going to be a writer. Something made her let go of her dream-- she stopped writing. Mr. P explains to Arnold how Mary was "a bright and shining star and she faded year by year until you could barely see her anymore." He goes on to tell Arnold that he is a bright and shining star, as well. He doesn't want Arnold to fail, fade away, and believes he deserves better in life. Mr. P encourages Arnold to leave the reservation. The reservation environment is a culture filled with giving up. Mr. P says it best when he tells Arnold, "You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope" (pg. 43). I feel that this song relates to Mr. P and the advice he has given Arnold. When he visits Arnold that day at his home, he is essentially telling him, you need to be good to yourself. The song talks about being "good to yourself when nobody else will." This is the scenario for Arnold living and going to school on the rez. The community is not supportive of young people's dreams. There is also a line in the song that describes struggle and a fight: "Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove, I'm hanging up my boxin gloves." Arnold experiences violence and an inner fight to succeed on a regular basis. He is surrounded by people pulling him down. Mr. P would encourage Arnold to "hang up his boxin' gloves." It took the visit from Mr. P to really open Arnold's eyes to the possibilities for his future. Overall, I believe Mr. P would enjoy the lyrics to this song and would be likely to share it with Arnold. His hopes would be to inspire him to do what is best for him-- leave the reservation and "be good to yourself."
Do you have a certain song that you play to help you get through certain times? A song for when you are experiencing enjoyment or sadness? What about a song that could be your personal anthem? Music expresses emotion in a way words cannot.
As you read a novel, you begin to know the characters on a new level. A character's personality and emotions are portrayed and developed throughout the novel. I would like you to choose a character in the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and locate a song with which that character could relate. This song can be one that the character may turn to or one that defines him or her on a personal level. When choosing a song, consider the character's personal values displayed throughout the novel and/or events that have impacted the character during the novel.
SONGS WITH OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE OR EXPLICIT LYRICS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE WIKI. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A ZERO ON YOUR RESPONSE.
Please include the following in your post:
Please click on the link of the appropriate character below and place your post on the character's page.
Characters:
Arnold (Junior) Spirit
Rowdy
Mary
Penelope
Arnold's Grandmother
Other character
Miss Love's Example:
Mr. P's Song
"Be Good to Yourself" by Journey
Lyrics:
"Runnin' out of self-control
Gettin' close to an overload
Up against a no win situation
Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove
I'm hangin' up my boxin' gloves
I'm ready for a long vacation
Be good to yourself when nobody else will
Be good to yourself
You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire
Oh be good to yourself
When you can't give no more
They want it all but you gotta say no
I'm turnin' off the noise that makes me crazy
Lookin' back with no regrets
To forgive is to forget
I want a little piece of mind to turn to
Be good to yourself when nobody else will
Oh be good to yourself
You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire
Oh be good to yourself
Be good to yourself when nobody else will"
Journey's Official Band Website
Live Performance of "Be Good to Yourself"
Description/Song Reflection:
Mr. P is a minor character in the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. He is introduced at the beginning of the novel while Arnold is still attending school on the rez. After Junior accidentally breaks Mr. P's nose when throwing a book, Mr. P comes over to Arnold's house to have a talk with him. During this talk, Mr. P reveals many personal details of his life and gives Arnold very inspiring advice. Mr. P tells Arnold about back when he taught his sister, Mary in school. He explains to Arnold how much potential she had with her writing skills and how he believed she was going to be a writer. Something made her let go of her dream-- she stopped writing. Mr. P explains to Arnold how Mary was "a bright and shining star and she faded year by year until you could barely see her anymore." He goes on to tell Arnold that he is a bright and shining star, as well. He doesn't want Arnold to fail, fade away, and believes he deserves better in life. Mr. P encourages Arnold to leave the reservation. The reservation environment is a culture filled with giving up. Mr. P says it best when he tells Arnold, "You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope" (pg. 43).
I feel that this song relates to Mr. P and the advice he has given Arnold. When he visits Arnold that day at his home, he is essentially telling him, you need to be good to yourself. The song talks about being "good to yourself when nobody else will." This is the scenario for Arnold living and going to school on the rez. The community is not supportive of young people's dreams. There is also a line in the song that describes struggle and a fight: "Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove, I'm hanging up my boxin gloves." Arnold experiences violence and an inner fight to succeed on a regular basis. He is surrounded by people pulling him down. Mr. P would encourage Arnold to "hang up his boxin' gloves." It took the visit from Mr. P to really open Arnold's eyes to the possibilities for his future. Overall, I believe Mr. P would enjoy the lyrics to this song and would be likely to share it with Arnold. His hopes would be to inspire him to do what is best for him-- leave the reservation and "be good to yourself."